Abortion

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their present estimate of the number of babies born alive each year after abortion procedures carried out by the National Health Service; and
	When the investigation launched by the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) to examine the numbers of babies born alive after abortion procedures in the National Health Service, and the circumstances surrounding these events, will report; and whether the CEMACH report will be published.

Lord Warner: The Government understand that it is rare for a baby to be born alive following a termination of pregnancy. The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists issued guidance to its Fellows and Members in 1996, and again in 2001, on terminations at gestational age of more than 21 weeks and six days, and ensuring that the foetus is born dead.
	The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) initially intends to carry out a validation exercise to look at data on babies born alive but who die in the first 28 days following legal abortion. Upon completion of the validation exercise CEMACH will make its work available, although the time scales for this are uncertain at present.

Abortion

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis they reached the conclusion in paragraph 4.10.4 in the partial regulatory impact assessment on the Prohibition of Abortion (England and Wales) Bill that 15,000 illegal abortions would take place in the United Kingdom if the Bill is passed; and whether they will place information to support the conclusion in the Library of the House.

Lord Warner: When developing the partial regulatory impact assessment (PRIA) on the Prohibition of Abortion (England and Wales) Bill officials contacted a range of government departments and stakeholders to get the best possible understanding of the Bill. The number of possible illegal abortions estimated in the PRIA was based on information provided by those stakeholders responding to the consultation and from examining what happened in other countries where access to abortion is restricted or illegal. The PRIA highlights that any outcomes would evolve over time, requiring around five years to become established.

Access to Work

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to extend Access to Work schemes to outlets other than Jobcentre Plus.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Access to Work is administered by 11 regional specialist Jobcentre Plus business centres. There are no plans to extend the programme beyond these business centres.

Access to Work

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What criteria are used to measure the success of Access to Work schemes; and
	What has been the success rate of (a) new, and (b) converted Access to Work schemes.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Unlike other Jobcentre Plus programmes, the success of which are measured by how many unemployed people find work or training through those programmes, Access to Work is designed to help disabled people who are already in employment.
	Since the programme began in 1994, the number helped and the spend has increased dramatically, with 32,077 people helped in the 2004-05 financial year with a spend of £59.5 million. The national centre carries out regular customer satisfaction surveys and monitors the number of people helped by Access to Work. The National Audit Office also carries out regular checks on the administration of the programme to ensure correct use of access to work guidance and value for money.
	More detailed evidence is available from a recent survey. In July 2005, 4,000 customer satisfaction questionnaires were sent out by the Access to Work business centres. Some 1,523 questionnaires were returned by the end of September: 1,387 respondents were either very satisfied or satisfied with the programme and said that they could not work without its support. There is also strong support for Access to Work from voluntary organisations and groups promoting employment for disabled people.

Access to Work

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many companies classified as (a) small; (b) medium; and (c) large enterprises have used Access to Work since the inception of the scheme.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information is not available.
	Employers do not ask for help from Access to Work. Individual disabled employees apply to the regional Jobcentre Plus Access to Work business centres to request help with the type of support they need in the workplace.

Africa: Climate Change

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the appropriate international organisations for an assessment of the impact of climate change on the level of the water table in the regions of Africa.

Lord Bach: The UK is working hard to ensure that the UNFCCC creates the enabling framework for developing countries to manage climate change, principally through its policy function and supported by enabling funds. For example, under the UNFCCC, least developed countries are developing national adaptation programmes of action. The impacts of climate change on water resource management are likely to be an important focus. Enabling funds have been established under the UNFCCC to help developing countries to assess the relevance of climate change impacts to their development and to integrate responses to climate change into their planning and policies. The UK has committed £10 million over three years to the UNFCCC Special Climate Change Fund for this purpose. A similar fund was adopted at the recent conference of parties for least developed countries, which covers 30 countries in Africa. The UK will be considering a contribution to it once we are satisfied with the programming strategy developed for it.
	The G8 Gleneagles plan of action contained important agreements on progressing adaptation to climate change. The G8 agreed to put climate risk management procedures in place for donor-funded development investments, to increase their resilience to climate change impacts. The UK will be working collaboratively with the World Bank and other donors to implement a pilot phase of climate risk screening of its investments in 2006. On Africa specifically, the G8 agreed to support improvements to climate observation networks to address climate data gaps, as well as developing in-country and regional capacity for analysing and interpreting climate observational data, to support local planning needs in sectors such as water and agriculture. The UK will be supporting the relevant multilateral organisations to take this forward.

Ards and Down Area Plan: Planning Applications

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Planning Service determines relevant planning applications on the basis of the draft Ards and Down area plan.

Lord Rooker: The draft Ards and Down area plan is a material consideration in the determination of relevant planning applications.

Ards and Down Area Plan: Planning Applications

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether planning application X/2004/0974/F would breach the housing growth for Whiterock, County Down, as proposed in the regional development strategy for Whiterock within the draft areas plan.

Lord Rooker: The application X/2204/0974/F does not breach the housing growth for Whiterock, as proposed in the draft Ards and Down Area Plan 2015. The draft plan allocates 65 housing units to Whiterock while the planning application proposes 42 housing units.

Armagh City: Parking Tickets

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many parking tickets were placed on motor cars by traffic wardens during October at each of the following locations in the city of Armagh (a) lower Irish Street; (b) upper Irish Street; (c) Thomas Street; (d) Barrack Street; (e) Dobbin Street; (f) Market Street; (g) upper English Street; (h) lower English Street; (i) College Street; and (j) Russell Street; and whether traffic wardens' duties are carried out evenly throughout the city.

Lord Rooker: The statistics requested are provided in the table below.
	
		
			 Street Name Number of Fixed Penalty Notices Issued 
			 Lower Irish Street 0 
			 Upper Irish Street 0 
			 Thomas Street 5 
			 Barrack Street 0 
			 Dobbin Street 2 
			 Market Street 0 
			 Upper English Street 2 
			 Lower English Street 0 
			 College Street 1 
			 Russell Street 0 
		
	
	A total of 33 fixed penalty notices for parking were issued in Armagh city in October, 23 of which were in streets other than those listed in the question. Traffic warden duties are targeted at areas where parking violations have been identified as a problem.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many claim forms have been received since 6 April relating to claims under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Lord Drayson: As at 12 December a total of 642 claim forms have been received since 6 April relating to claims under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total sum of damages paid out so far by the Ministry of Defence under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Lord Drayson: As at 12 December a total of £204,525.00 has been paid out in the form of a lump sum. In addition, awards of ongoing payments have been made to the equivalent of £52,316.59 in a full year.

Belfast Security Barriers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord President on 2 February (WA 38) and by Lord Rooker on 10 October (WA 60), (a) which body consulted the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) at Musgrave Street, about the removal of the security barriers at lower Chichester Street in Belfast; (b) whether the decision to remove the barriers rests with the PSNI; (c) why these barriers are not identified by the ongoing review of the removal of town centre barriers in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO); (d) which barriers are under consideration in the NIO review; and (e) why the barriers at lower Chichester Street are needed, given the verification of the decommissioning of Irish Republican Army weapons.

Lord Rooker: (a) The Northern Ireland Office consulted the PSNI about the removal of barriers at lower Chichester Street in Belfast; (b) the decision to remove the barriers rests with the Northern Ireland Office: however any decision would be based on the PSNI's security advice; (c) the barriers at lower Chichester Street were not included in the Northern Ireland Office review because they were deemed to be a permanent installation and were put in place specifically to provide a secure area around the courts complex; (d) all other town centre barriers in Northern Ireland were included in the Northern Ireland Office review; and (e) the barrier at lower Chichester Street is under active consideration.

Biomass Fuel

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What payments have been made to date, and are likely to be paid, to those responsible for the construction and development of the biogas plant at Winkleigh, Devon, excepting grants payable under the Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As at 5 December 2005, the south-west RDA has spent £566,581.09 in relation to the Winkleigh Biomass Electricity Generator project. A further £38,312.62 is committed.
	Some of this expenditure has been paid to Integrated Development Projects Ltd (IDP) and to Peninsula Power Ltd (PPL) who are responsible for the development of the biomass plant at Winkleigh.
	The south-west RDA's expenditure on this project can be broken down into two main areas:
	the acquisition of the land; and
	the funding of feasibility studies, surveys and other legal costs.
	The acquisition of the land
	A total of £411,843.21 has been spent on the acquisition of the land. This includes £12,017.09 paid to IDP in reimbursement of its legal costs and for its services in transferring the benefit of their option agreement to the south-west RDA, managing the process and liaising with the vendor.
	The funding of feasibility studies, surveys and other related reports
	The south-west RDA has funded or part-funded certain project feasibility studies, surveys and related reports in relation to the project, spending £154,737.88 on these to date, while £38,312.62 remains committed. Of this, the following amounts have been paid to PPL.
	
		
			  Paid to date Outstanding 
			 Environmental Impact 
			 Assessment £40,000.00 0 
			 Biomass Feedstock Study £20,000.00 £8,000.00 
			 Architectural Study £14,000.00 0 
			 Pre-engineering £18,025.42 £9,562.08 
			 Site Investigation £8,746.96 £2,145.54 
			 Structural Engineering £5,000.00 0 
			 Transmission Line Study 0 £3,750.00 
			 Planning Advice £6,345.00 £1,855.00 
			 IPPC 0 £10,000.00 
			 Total £112,117.38 £35,312.62

Blood Products: Self-sufficiency

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to release the report on the internal review by the Department of Health on the issue of self-sufficiency in blood products in the 1970s, bearing in mind the information given on 27 July by Melanie Johnson MP, then Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department of Health, to the Lord Morris of Manchester which indicated that a draft of the report had at that time been prepared.

Lord Warner: The report on self-sufficiency in blood products is expected to be published early in the new year.

Cairngorms National Park: Electricity Pylons

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will reassess the proposal to erect large pylons across the newly designated Cairngorms National Park.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: Decisions on proposals for major transmission lines in Scotland under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 are a devolved responsibility of Scottish Executive Ministers.

Charities: VAT Relief

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals they have to provide charities with value added tax relief.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Government provide VAT reliefs for charities worth over £200 million each year—this includes some reliefs designed specifically for things sold by charities—such as donated goods, and goods and services sold in connection with a one-off fundraising event. Charities also benefit from zero rates of VAT for certain things they buy such as advertising services and some construction services. In addition, the Government provide over £2 billion in direct tax and business rate relief and repayments to charities each year.
	Charities do incur VAT on some of their purchases, and the Government have considered the issue of charities' irrecoverable VAT in two major reviews since 1997. Through these reviews we came to two conclusions: first, that it would not be an affordable or efficient use of public resources to reimburse all 250,000 charitable bodies in the UK for the VAT they incur regardless of the activities they are involved in or their financial health, which the sector estimates would cost some £500 million per year; and secondly, that there was no fair and principled basis on which we could decide that some charities would be reimbursed their VAT and some would not.
	The available resources are better and more effectively deployed through targeted initiatives such as the new Futurebuilders investment fund, rather than through a general VAT refund scheme.

Chechnya

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the statement on the parliamentary elections in Chechnya, which they issued during their presidency of the European Union on 29 November, did not take account of the report published on 23 November by the International Helsinki Federation of Human Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights, the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society and other similar bodies, or of the report by Andreas Gross, the Council of Europe Rapporteur on Chechnya.

Lord Triesman: The UK Government welcome the joint publication of the report In a Climate of Fear on 23 November by a number of non-governmental organisations. However, while we agree that conditions for the elections were far from ideal, it is a positive development that in such an unstable region the elections passed peacefully and with the participation and election of representatives from a range of parties. The EU presidency statement reflects that view. We continue to believe that an open and inclusive political process will be the best way to bring stability to Chechnya and hope that all sides will take the opportunity of these elections to push for greater democratic accountability.

China: Family Planning Policy

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have considered ending the provision of funding, either directly or through the United Nations Population Fund or the International Planned Parenthood Federation, to the Chinese Population Association following recent reports in The Independent and the Daily Telegraph about the use of coercion against Chinese women.

Baroness Amos: The UK Government's policy on the population and sexual and reproductive health in the developing world is about providing choice, not coercion. We believe that women should be able to decide freely and responsibly, the number and spacing of their children, and have information and services to be able to do so.
	DfID does not provide direct funding to population activities in China. We do provide support to the work of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Planned Parenthood Foundation (IPPF), as well as other organisations in sexual and reproductive health fields that seek to promote informed choice and better services in developing countries. Both the UNFPA and the IPPF work to promote reproductive health and family planning, including HIV prevention services; DfID currently provides £80 million over four years to the UNFPA and £19.5 million to the IPPF for 2004-06.
	The UNFPA and the IPPF are working to promote reform and change in China. Neither supports the one child policy or its implementation. Both the UNFPA and the IPPF are working to promote and uphold the principles of free and informed choice as set out at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994.
	As a condition of the UNFPA support the Chinese authorities have removed birth quotas and targets within the counties in which the UNFPA provides support. The UNFPA programme in China is making a full range of reproductive health services available in 32 countries on a voluntary basis. In the areas where the UNFPA is working, abortion rates are falling.
	The IPPF, through the China family planning association, is promoting work to report misconduct by officials within government programme, and innovative approaches to enable people to report behaviour that infringes people's rights.
	For these reasons, and for the work that both the UNFPA and the IPPF pursue elsewhere, DfID will continue to provide support to both organisations.

Civil Aircraft Operations

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which national authority is responsible for determining the routes along which scheduled aircraft will fly when they cross the United Kingdom; and whether they have assessed the sensitivity to noise pollution of the areas crossed by scheduled aircraft.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for approving the use of UK airspace, as part of its role to develop and enforce a policy for the sustainable use of that airspace. The Secretary of State has issued directions to the CAA requiring it to take into account the need to reduce, control and mitigate as far as possible the environmental impacts of civil aircraft operations and in particular annoyance and disturbance to the public arising from aircraft noise and vibration. Supporting guidance encourages the CAA as far as possible to avoid routes below 7,000 feet over densely populated areas; to minimise the number of departure routes, consistent with airspace management and safety considerations; and to pursue policies that help to preserve the tranquillity of the countryside where this does not add to the environmental burdens on congested areas.
	The directions and guidance are on the Department for Transport's website.

Civil Partnerships

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the power to enable a relation of one member of a civil partnership to be counted as a relative of the other is being sought through the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Relationships Arising Through Civil Partnership) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3137) and was not included in the original Act.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Relationships Arising Through Civil Partnership) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3137) does not create any new powers. It is made under the powers in Section 247 of the Civil Partnership Act. Section 246 of the Act provides that references to "step" relationships and "in-laws" in any provision to which the section applies are to be read as including relationships arising through civil partnership. Section 246 applies to the provisions of the Acts specified in Schedule 21 to the Act.
	The power under Section 247 has been exercised to amend Schedule 21 by adding further provisions of various Acts to that schedule. The power under Section 247 has also been exercised to apply Section 246 of the Act to the provisions of subordinate legislation specified in the order.

Civil Partnerships

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they have not prepared a regulatory impact assessment in respect of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Relationships Arising Through Civil Partnership) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3137).

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared for the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Relationships Arising Through Civil Partnership) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3137), because it has no impact on the costs of business, charities, voluntary bodies or any public bodies distinct from that of the Civil Partnership Act itself. A full regulatory impact assessment for civil partnership was published alongside the Act and can be viewed at www.dti.gov.uk/access/ria/index.htm/equality.

Companies Act 1985 (Operating and Financial Review and Report etc.) Regulations 2005

Lord Wedderburn of Charlton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to repeal the Companies Act 1985 (Operating and Financial Review and Report etc.) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 1011/2005).

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Regulations to repeal the requirement to produce a statutory Operating and Financial Review were laid before Parliament on 15 December. The Companies Act 1985 (Operating and Financial Review) (Repeal) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3442) come into force on 12 January 2006.

Constable Trevor Purcell

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 20 December 2004 (WA 113), whether Constable Trevor Johnston Purcell is currently the subject of misconduct proceedings relating to the charge, dismissed in court on 29 November 2004, of driving dangerously during a riot, and, if so, whether these proceedings were initiated by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland or the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The Chief Constable has advised me that it is not PSNI policy to disclose information regarding live misconduct proceedings or details of individual officers. In all matters where the Police Ombudsman is the investigative body, the ombudsman will make a recommendation to the PSNI to recommend either (a) informal misconduct action which could be advice or guidance or a written warning or (b) formal misconduct proceedings with specific sanctions ranging from a caution to dismissal. In a case where the Police Ombudsman recommends formal proceedings and the Chief Constable is unwilling to bring disciplinary proceedings, the Police Ombudsman can direct a formal misconduct hearing.

Criminal Offences

Baroness Hayman: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 24 November (WA 228), under how many of the new criminal offences created by the Terrorism Act 2000, the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 no prosecutions have been laid.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Those offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 and Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 where no prosecutions have been laid up to the end of 2004 are listed below. The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 came into force on 11 March 2005. Data relating to court statistics for 2005 held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform will be available in autumn 2006. Information for Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Office and that for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Office.
	The Terrorism Act 2000
	S.13a Wearing any item of dress in support of a proscribed organisation
	S.18 Entering or becoming concerned in an arrangement which facilitates the retention or control by or on behalf of another person of terrorist property
	S.19 Disclosure of information duty
	Sch 5 S.36(1)(2) Wilfully obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty in a cordoned area
	S.48,51(2) Failure to move vehicle when ordered to do so by a constable in uniform (vehicle has been permitted to remain at rest in contravention of any prohibition or restriction)
	S.48,51(1) Leaving a vehicle or permitting a vehicle to remain at rest on a road in contravention of a prohibition or restriction
	Sch 5(1-3) Wilfully obstructing or seeking to frustrate the object of a search in a cordoned area
	Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
	S.50 Weapons related acts overseas
	S.52 Obstruction of an officer in the exercise of a power conferred by a warrant etc
	S.54 Knowingly making false or misleading statements for purpose of obtaining or opposing the variation or withdrawal of authorisation for the purposes of S.47 & 50
	S.67 Occupier fails to comply with any duty or direction imposed on him by or under this Part(7); knowingly or recklessly making a statement which is false or misleading
	S.77(2)(d)(3)(a) Offences under triable either way regulations make under Part 8 S.77(2)(d) and (3)(b) Offences under Summary regulations made under Part 8
	S.80(3) Prohibition of disclosures of uranium enrichment technology
	Sch.3 paras.2, 3, and 7 Failure to comply with prohibition imposed by order; engaging in an activity knowing or intending that it will enable or facilitate the commission by another person of an offence under Sch.3 para.2

Defra: Helen Ghosh

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Helen Ghosh has been appointed to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as Permanent Secretary on a temporary basis; and, if so, for what length of time she has been appointed.

Lord Bach: Following an open competition, Helen Ghosh was appointed Permanent Secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 November 2005 for an indefinite period. In line with other Permanent Secretaries, her appointment is expected to continue for a term of about four years.

Defra: Helen Ghosh

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have agreed that the post of Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should be held on a part-time basis; and, if so, what hours Helen Ghosh will work in the department.

Lord Bach: Helen Ghosh, who was appointed Permanent Secretary on 7 November, is employed and paid on a part-time basis of four and a half days (32 hours) a week instead of five days (37 hours full-time rate). We welcomed Helen Ghosh's proposal to work part time: it bears out the Government's belief in the value of flexible working and demonstrates commitment to provide opportunities for all employees to achieve a better work-life balance.
	Helen Ghosh's contract mirrors other senior civil servants' contracts in that it states that her working pattern may be varied by agreement, or as the requirements of the post dictate. She is also required to work such additional hours as may from time to time be reasonable and necessary for the efficient performance of her duties but she is not entitled to the payment of any extra hours worked beyond 37 hours.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995: Mobility Aids

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessments they have made of (a) the extent to which cycles of various kinds are used as mobility aids by registered disabled persons, including those with sensory as well as movement disabilities; (b) the extent of the mobility benefits thus conferred on these people in comparison with other mobility aids, such as wheelchairs; and (c) the status of cycles as a mobility aid in relation to regulations under Parts 3 and 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There are several types of cycles on the market designed for use by disabled people. However, we have made no assessment of the extent to which they, or other forms of cycles, are used as mobility aids and information to inform such an assessment is not held centrally. The extent to which cycles benefit the mobility of disabled people when compared with other forms of mobility aids has therefore not been determined.
	Similarly, we have made no assessment of the status of cycles as a mobility aid in relation to duties under Part 3 or Part 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
	Part 3 of the Act includes provisions which place duties on service providers not to discriminate against disabled people and to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people in the way that they provide their services. Since 5 December 2005, the duties in Part 3 have started to be extended in stages to more areas, including private clubs, public bodies in their carrying out of public functions, and letting of premises. An adjustment for a disabled person who required a cycle as a mobility aid would need to be considered by those with duties under the Act when deciding what may be a reasonable adjustment to make. Factors such as the cost and practicability of making an adjustment, and the resources available to the service provider, private club or landlord may be taken into account in deciding what is reasonable in any individual situation.
	Part 5 of the Act concerns accessibility regulations for all land-based public transport (trains, buses, coaches and taxis) rather than private modes of transport.

Driving Offences: Fixed Penalty Notices

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many fixed penalty notices have been issued for the offence of failing to nominate a driver, for each year by police force, since 1 June 2003.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Available information held centrally in England and Wales and Scotland on the number of fixed penalty notices issued does not distinguish the offence of failure to identify the driver of a motor vehicle, contrary to Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, from other types of offence. The information requested is not presently collated in Northern Ireland.

Drug and Alcohol Treatment: Residential Services

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many residential places for drug and alcohol treatment and maintenance will be available nationally and by region, for men and women respectively, for persons serving the non-custodial part of a custody plus sentence, when this provision comes into force.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are presently 122 residential treatment centres for adult drug and alcohol misusers in England and Wales with a total of 2,595 beds. A breakdown by region and gender is shown in the table below.
	
		
			 Region Number of centres Total number of beds Number of male only beds Number of female only beds 
			 North-east 4 110 28 9 
			 North-west 19 320 79 49 
			 Yorkshire and   Humberside 8 176 24 12 
			 East Midlands 4 49 6 6 
			 West Midlands 3 51 24 4 
			 East of England 6 148 6 25 
			 London 21 453 71 28 
			 South-east 25 546 135 18 
			 South-west 28 695 211 112 
			 Wales 4 47  12 
			 Total 1221 2,5952 5843 2754 
		
	
	Further information is available from the National Treatment Agency's online residential treatment directory.
	The Department of Health and National Treatment Agency have plans to increase the number of beds from 2006-07 but it is not possible to say
	1 Nine are drug only and 11 alcohol only.
	2 116 are drug only and 188 alcohol only.
	3 38 are drug only and four alcohol only.
	4 Six are drug only and four alcohol only.

East Jerusalem

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why European Union foreign ministers vetoed publication of an agreed report on the future of east Jerusalem; and whether this veto will be lifted before the end of the British presidency of the European Union.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary said after the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 12 December, we discussed the EU analysis on east Jerusalem submitted to Ministers by heads of mission in the region as well as by various committees here in Brussels. We decided, given the changed circumstances in Israel and the occupied territories, that this would not be endorsed or published and instead that we would continue to make strong representations to the government of Israel about the matter in the normal way.

Education: Ability and Talent

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their definition of the terms (a) ability, and (b) talent, when used in education policy.

Lord Adonis: "Ability" is defined in statute by Section 99(5)(b) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as,
	"either general ability or ability in any particular subject or subjects".
	The National Foundation for Educational Research has produced a widely accepted definition of ability:
	"'ability' is an all-embracing factor which suggests whether a candidate will be able to undertake successfully a course of study. It could be considered as a predictor of scholastic attainment".
	The Government's policies on gifted and talented education support learners with one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group in their school, as well as those with the potential to develop abilities to such a level. In this context, "gifted and talented" has been used to denote abilities in one or more curriculum subjects, in creative arts and in sports.

Education: Per Capita Spending

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much is spent per pupil on education in each of the English, Scottish and Welsh local education areas.

Lord Adonis: The information requested is contained within the following table. Spending per pupil in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales respectively.
	
		Combined local authority and school-based expenditure1 per pupil 2 in England 2004–053
		
			 Local Authority Name £ per pupil 1,2,3,4 
			 England 4,140 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,660 
			 Barnet 4,470 
			 Barnsley 4,070 
			 Bath and North-East Somerset 4,020 
			 Bedfordshire 3,920 
			 Bexley 4,090 
			 Birmingham 4,440 
			 Blackburn and Darwen 4,240 
			 Blackpool 4,200 
			 Bolton 4,010 
			 Bournemouth 3,780 
			 Bracknell Forest 4,010 
			 Bradford 4,150 
			 Brent 4,850 
			 Brighton and Hove 4,210 
			 Bromley 3,850 
			 Buckinghamshire 4,130 
			 Bury 3,790 
			 Calderdale 4,020 
			 Cambridgeshire 3,830 
			 Camden 6,280 
			 Cheshire 3,760 
			 City of Bristol 4,240 
			 City of Kingston-Upon-Hull 4,160 
			 City of London 10,880 
			 Cornwall 4,200 
			 Coventry 4,240 
			 Croydon 4,140 
			 Cumbria 4,140 
			 Darlington 3,880 
			 Derby 4,180 
			 Derbyshire 3,700 
			 Devon 3,830 
			 Doncaster 4,120 
			 Dorset 4,330 
			 Dudley 3,990 
			 Durham 4,220 
			 Ealing 4,790 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 3,800 
			 East Sussex 4,140 
			 Enfield 4,630 
			 Essex 3,840 
			 Gateshead 4,330 
			 Gloucestershire 3,780 
			 Greenwich 5,270 
			 Hackney 5,950 
			 Halton 4,470 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,570 
			 Hampshire 3,750 
			 Haringey 5,230 
			 Harrow 4,340 
			 Hartlepool 4,040 
			 Havering 4,010 
			 Herefordshire 3,860 
			 Hertfordshire 3,910 
			 Hillingdon 4,090 
			 Hounslow 4,760 
			 Isle of Wight 4,090 
			 Isles of Scilly 9,420 
			 Islington 6,540 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,910 
			 Kent 3,940 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,280 
			 Kirklees 4,120 
			 Knowsley 4,350 
			 Lambeth 5,580 
			 Lancashire 4,030 
			 Leeds 4,140 
			 Leicester 4,410 
			 Leicestershire 3,650 
			 Lewisham 5,930 
			 Lincolnshire 3,780 
			 Liverpool 4,940 
			 Luton 4,800 
			 Manchester 4,710 
			 Medway 4,100 
			 Merton 4,860 
			 Middlesbrough 4,660 
			 Milton Keynes 4,000 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 4,490 
			 Newham 4,990 
			 Norfolk 4,410 
			 North-East Lincolnshire 4,150 
			 North Lincolnshire 4,450 
			 North Somerset 3,700 
			 North Tyneside 4,090 
			 North Yorkshire 4,620 
			 Northamptonshire 3,740 
			 Northumberland 4,050 
			 Nottingham City 4,950 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,840 
			 Oldham 4,090 
			 Oxfordshire 4,070 
			 Peterborough 4,210 
			 Plymouth 4,100 
			 Poole 3,580 
			 Portsmouth 4,260 
			 Reading 4,420 
			 Redbridge 4,200 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 4,410 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,270 
			 Rochdale 4,280 
			 Rotherham 3,990 
			 Rutland 4,090 
			 Salford 4,360 
			 Sandwell 4,430 
			 Sefton 4,080 
			 Sheffield 3,990 
			 Shropshire 3,710 
			 Slough 4,590 
			 Solihull 3,660 
			 Somerset 3,780 
			 South Gloucestershire 3,730 
			 South Tyneside 4,510 
			 Southampton 4,450 
			 Southend 3,870 
			 Southwark 5,790 
			 St Helens 4,200 
			 Staffordshire 3,660 
			 Stockport 3,720 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 4,080 
			 Stoke on Trent 4,130 
			 Suffolk 3,890 
			 Sunderland 4,450 
			 Surrey 3,850 
			 Sutton 4,080 
			 Swindon 3,750 
			 Tameside 3,760 
			 Telford and Wrekin 3,970 
			 Thurrock 4,590 
			 Torbay 4,090 
			 Tower Hamlets 6,280 
			 Trafford 3,410 
			 Wakefield 3,880 
			 Walsall 3,880 
			 Waltham Forest 4,460 
			 Wandsworth 5,000 
			 Warrington 3,550 
			 Warwickshire 4,030 
			 West Berkshire 4,030 
			 West Sussex 3,800 
			 Westminster 5,660 
			 Wigan 4,000 
			 Wiltshire 3,760 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 4,090 
			 Wirral 4,080 
			 Wokingham 3,740 
			 Wolverhampton 4,210 
			 Worcestershire 3,700 
			 York 3,900 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 The combined local authority (LA) and school-based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LA other than in maintained establishments, This includes both school-based expenditure and all elements of central LA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA) and are drawn from local authorities' Section 52 outturn statements (Table A) submitted to the DfES.
	2 Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under-5s funded by the LA and being educated in private settings, pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and other LA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools are taken from the DfES annual schools census. Private voluntary and independent (PVI) under-5 pupil numbers are taken from the early years census. Other LA maintained pupils includes all pupils attending schools not maintained by the authority for whom the authority is paying full tuition fees, or educated otherwise than in schools and pupil referral units under arrangements made by the authority drawn from the Form 8b submitted to the DfES. Also included as other LA maintained pupils are all pupils attending pupil referral units who are not registered at a maintained mainstream school drawn from the DfES annual schools census. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	3 2004-05 data are regarded as provisional and are subject to change by the LA.
	4 Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 as reported by the LEA.

Employment Statistics

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people were in work in 2004 in the United Kingdom.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Jil Matheson, Director of Economic and Social Reporting, Office for National Statistics, to Lord Skelmersdale, dated December 2005.
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Question about the number of people in work in 2004 in the United Kingdom. I am replying in her absence (HL3013).
	Between the three-month periods ending respectively in January 2004 and in December 2004 the number of people in employment in the UK rose from 28.4 million to 28.6 million.
	These seasonally adjusted estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Employment Tribunals: Department of Trade and Industry

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What costs have been incurred by the Department of Trade and Industry in contesting cases of unlawful discrimination in employment tribunals over the past 18 months.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The department has made compensation payments totalling £4,000 in respect of discrimination claims in the 18 months to November 2005.
	The cost of external legal representation incurred by the Department of Trade and Industry in contesting cases of unlawful discrimination in employment tribunals over the same period is £34,275.29. That sum does not include the costs of DTI Legal Services Group or the costs of management time.

Employment: Disability

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people have (a) left employment due to a disability; and (b) re-entered employment with a disability in each year since 1997.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We cannot accurately answer how many people left employment due to a disability, as such data are not available. However, the Labour Force Survey indicates the number of people giving up work for health reasons. This is shown in the following table:
	
		People giving up work for health reasons
		
			   
			 1997 23,100 
			 1998 33,500 
			 1999 32,500 
			 2000 29,300 
			 2001 40,300 
			 2002 29,500 
			 2003 32,900 
			 2004 31,700 
			 Total 252,800 
		
	
	Source: Labour Force Survey
	Notes: Health reasons may include disabilities as well as sickness, impairment and other health conditions.
	We cannot accurately answer the question how many people re-entered employment with a disability, as no data are available. However, the Labour Force Survey shows the number of disabled people in work, and hence we can calculate the increase in the number of disabled people in employment in each year. This is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Total  number of disabled people Disabled people in employment Annual Change (increase in number of disabled people in employment) Disabled persons employment rate (percentage) 
			 1998 4,755,000 1,811,000  35.1 
			 1999 5,030,000 2,085,000 274,000 41.5 
			 2000 5,212,000 2,209,000 124,000 42.4 
			 2001 5,300,000 2,275,000 66,000 42.9 
			 2002 5,494,000 2,400,000 125,000 43.7 
			 2003 5,531,000 2,491,000 91,000 45.0 
			 2004 5,633,000 2,609,000 118,000 46.3 
			 2005 5,650,000 2,634,000 25,000 46.6 
		
	
	Source: Labour Force Survey
	Notes:
	1. The definition of those with a disability is consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act.
	2. Figures may not add due to rounding.

Essex Police Constabulary

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the estimated cost of the merger of the Essex police constabulary into (a) one eastern force; (b) a combined force of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex constabularies; and (c) a combined force of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex constabularies.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: As part of developing options for change, forces and authorities have been asked to undertake a cost benefit analysis of options they have decided to develop further. This should include estimates on set up costs. Forces and authorities in the eastern region have indicated they will include their cost benefit analysis of options in their final report to be submitted to the Home Office by the 23 December.

EU Presidency: Competitiveness Council

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the conclusions reached on 29 November by the European Union Council of Ministers, dealing with European Union competitiveness; and whether they feel that sufficient progress has been made.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I chaired research items at the Competitiveness Council on 28 November. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry chaired the internal market and industry items, which were taken on 29 November. My honourable friend Barry Gardiner, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for competitiveness, took the UK seat on both days.
	The Council recorded a number of important achievements in pursuit of EU competitiveness including: a partial general approach on the seventh framework programme for research and development (providing the basis for adopting a common position once agreement has been reached on the financial perspectives); Council conclusions on better regulation that mark a real step change at EU level; agreement that we should conclude negotiations regarding the REACH chemicals regulation which was subsequently agreed at the Competitiveness Council meeting on 13 December; and recognition that significant technical progress has been made on the Services Directive during the UK presidency ahead of the European Parliament's opinion next year.
	For further detail on the Council, I refer the noble Lord to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's Statement to Parliament, which was tabled on Monday 5 December.

EU: Combating Recruitment to Terrorism

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that the documents relevant to the proposed action plan to tackle radicalisation and the recruitment to terrorism are published before decisions are taken by the Council of Ministers.

Lord Triesman: Information about the European Union strategy for combating radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism is contained in the Explanatory Memorandum on Justice and Home Affairs matters laid before the House on 29 November. The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council approved the strategy and action plan at its meeting in Brussels on 1 December 2005. The EU has published a copy of the strategy which can be found at www.ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms–Data/docs/pressData/en/jha/87258.pdf.

Extraordinary Rendition Flights

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the reply of the United States Secretary of State to the letter from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs requesting details of extraordinary rendition flights by United States aircraft containing terrorist suspects detained without due process by United States enforcement agencies.

Lord Triesman: As EU presidency, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary, wrote to the US Secretary of State on 29 November concerning the media reports suggesting violations of international law in the alleged US detention or transportation of terrorist suspects in or through EU member states. The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, sent him by way of reply on 6 December a copy of the statement she had issued publicly the previous day. Her reply to the letter is therefore already public.

Extraordinary Rendition Flights

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will send an official notification to the United States Government and their enforcement agencies on the legality of extraordinary rendition flights across United Kingdom airspace under European Union and international law.

Lord Triesman: Such notification is unnecessary. The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, made clear in her statement of 5 December that,
	"with respect to detainees, the United States Government complies with its Constitution, its laws and its treaty obligations"
	and that:
	"The United States has respected—and will continue to respect—the sovereignty of other countries".
	The United States does not transport, and has not transported, detainees from one country to another for the purpose of interrogation using torture.
	The United States does not use the airspace or the airports of any country for the purpose of transporting a detainee to a country where he or she will be tortured.
	The United States has not transported anyone, and will not transport anyone, to a country when we believe he will be tortured. Where appropriate, the United States seeks assurances that transferred persons will not be tortured.

Food Products: Endorsements from Healthcare Professionals

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance they have issued to healthcare professionals with regard to endorsement of particular food products; and whether that guidance varies for those in receipt of salaries from public funds.

Lord Warner: It is the responsibility of the manufacturer, packer or seller of the food to comply with the relevant legislation, including where claims, including endorsement by healthcare professionals, could mislead consumers buying food. While general guidelines on compliance with labelling legislation are available from the Food Standards Agency and published on its website, there is no specific guidance on endorsements of food products by healthcare professionals.

Food Products: Endorsements from Healthcare Professionals

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the position adopted by the European Commission that endorsements from healthcare professionals should be banned from appearing on food products.

Lord Warner: The proposed European Community regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods would, as currently drafted, prohibit claims made in the labelling, presentation or advertising of foods, which refer to recommendations of individual doctors or health professionals. The European Council adopted its common position on the proposed regulation on 8 December, with member states having signified unanimous political agreement to the proposal on 3 June.

Foreign Nationals: Entry to UK

Lord Chan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 6 December (WA 91) concerning the registration of Chinese nationals, on what basis relevant foreign nationals, who are given visas, are selected to enter the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Like anyone else who is subject to immigration control, a person who is a "relevant foreign national" will be given an entry clearance if he or she meets the relevant criteria as set out in the Immigration Rules, and there are no overriding reasons for refusing entry. By "overriding reasons", I mean the general grounds for refusing leave to enter which are set out in Part 9 of the rules.

Foreign Nationals: Registration

Lord Chan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 6 December (WA 91) concerning the registration of Chinese nationals, which other relevant foreign nationals are required to register with the police upon arrival in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Anyone who is a "relevant foreign national" as defined in Part 10 of the Immigration Rules should normally be required to register with the police. The term "relevant foreign national" applies to anyone who is aged 16 or over and is the national or citizen of a country or territory listed in Appendix 2 to the rules, or is stateless, or holds a non-national travel document. The Immigration Rules can be found on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website (www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk) in the "Law and Policy" section.

Freedom of Information Act 2000: Post Office

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Post Office is required to comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; if so, where its statutory publications scheme can be found; and who is the designated freedom of information officer for the Post Office.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Royal Mail Group, which includes the Post Office, is required to comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Its statutory publications scheme can be found at www.royalmailgroup.com/contactus/publication– scheme.asp.
	The designated freedom of information officer for the Royal Mail Group is the company secretary, Jonathan Evans.

Household Waste

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much United Kingdom household waste exported in the years 2000 to 2005 was (a) green material, and (b) other general household waste.

Lord Bach: Green material, or non-hazardous waste, is not subject to the prior notification and consent procedures which apply to exports of hazardous waste. The UK competent authorities that control exports of waste are therefore not able to provide figures for exports of green material. Data from other sources, such as HM Revenue and Customs, would not be able to distinguish between exports that originated in households and other sources such as industry since a consignment could come from either source.
	General household waste, not including separately collected or sorted recyclable waste, is usually regarded by the UK as only suitable for disposal. Exports of waste for disposal from the UK are prohibited under national legislation. It is possible that general household waste could be exported to a facility specifically designed to recover energy from waste provided that UK competent authorities were minded to accept that the export was primarily for the purpose of energy recovery. However, no exports to these types of facilities have been reported during the period 2000–05.

Identity Cards

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish an analysis of their estimate of the annual implementation costs of the Identity Cards Bill of £584 million.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The regulatory impact assessment published on 25 May 2005 contained the Government's current best estimate of £584 million for the average annual running costs for the issuing of passports and ID cards to UK nationals. This figure covers the costs of application processing, including processing of maintenance requests, such as changes in personal details; the running costs of enrolment centres where biometrics will be recorded; facilities to house and operate the National Identity Register; running contact centre operations; running corporate services such as HR and finance systems and the national identity scheme commissioner. The costs also include production and distribution of personalised identity cards and passports and allowances for depreciation, technology refresh and maintenance as well as contingency and optimism bias. To provide more detailed analysis of costs in advance of procurement may prejudice the department's ability to secure a value for money solution from potential suppliers.

Incapacity Benefit

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people with intermittent conditions have claimed incapacity benefit in each year since 1997.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information is not available. Although incapacity benefit data are broken down by diagnosis groups, none of the current diagnoses is specifically for intermittent conditions.

Iraq: Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the letter from the Minister of State for the Home Office, Mr Tony McNulty, of 18 October stating that operational issues had developed which would prevent the removal of failed Iraqi asylum seekers within a reasonable timeframe, why the Home Office announced the recommencement of removals, starting on 20 November.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Home Office announced its intention to commence an enforced returns programme to Iraq in February 2004. Having these arrangements in place brings Iraq into line with arrangements we have for other countries. As my honourable friend's letter dated 18 October highlighted, we were obliged to defer an enforced return in October for logistical reasons. These reasons have now been worked through and resolved, which resulted in the first enforced return flight on 20 November.

Iraq: Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of the 21 Iraqi asylum seekers who were in detention on 14 October awaiting enforced removal were released on the Chief Immigration Officer's bail in accordance with the letter from the Minister of State for the Home Office, Mr Tony McNulty, of 18 October.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Thirteen of those detained were advised that the Immigration Service was considering release on bail and invited to provide details of proposed sureties and addresses. The remainder were assessed as posing too great a risk of absconding. Six of those were subsequently invited to provide sureties and addresses and were granted bail by an immigration judge. The remaining seven individuals were removed.

Iraq: Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What procedures they followed to ensure that persons removed to Iraq on 20 November (a) were from the Kurdish regional government; and (b) were without families; and that their cases did not fall within the Rashid judgment (EWCA/Civ/2005/744).

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: All enforced removals are carried out on a case by case basis. Those returned to Iraq were aware that they were being removed to Erbil. All potential returnees were carefully screened to ensure that they were from the three northern governorates and they had no dependants on their asylum claim; this was carried out again before removal took place. Until the timeframe which Justice Collins has highlighted is clarified we will seek to remove only those claimants whose cases were not decided in that timeframe or whose cases otherwise fall outside the potential scope of Rashid, even on a wide reading of that judgment.

Iraq: Compensation Claims

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much compensation has been paid to Iraqis in respect of claims other than those for property damage; and how many such claims have been made.

Lord Drayson: With effect from the cessation of hostilities on 1 June 2003 to 30 November 2005, 485 cases for compensation have been received from Iraqis in respect of claims other than those for property damage. Payments totaling £244,114 have been paid in 89 of the cases.

Iraq: White Phosphorous Munitions

Lord Hayhoe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 1 December (WA 65–6), whether any civilians or non-combatants have been harmed during operations by British military personnel using white phosphorous on Operation TELIC in Iraq.

Lord Drayson: I am not aware of any evidence of civilians or non-combatants having been harmed by white phosphorous used by British military personnel during operations in Iraq.

Licensing Act 2003

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, in assessing the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder, they selected five local authority areas in England and none in Wales.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England tasked the Home Office with conducting an evaluation of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder. The evaluation will draw on nationally representative data from surveys such as the British Crime Survey, and these data will be supplemented with information from five towns and cities which have been selected as case studies. There are no case study areas from Wales because the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy and its associated recommendations are for England only.

Mental Health: Post-discharge Suicide Prevention

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In view of the contents of the Five-year Report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness; Safety First (2001), what action has been taken to ensure that all mental health trusts follow up all high-risk post-discharged patients within 48 hours of discharge, and all patients assessed as having lower risk but still identified as suffering with severe mental illness, within one week of discharge.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health published the National suicide prevention strategy for England in 2002, which recognised that people who are currently or have recently been in contact with mental health services are at high risk of suicide. The strategy requires phone or face-to-face follow-up of patients with severe mental illness or history of self-harm in the previous three months within seven days of discharge.
	Preventing suicide: a toolkit for mental health services, published in 2003 by the National Institute for Mental Health in England, provides guidance to help mental health services in England measure systematically the extent to which they are addressing the recommendations of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness report Safety First, and includes advice on post-discharge prevention of suicide. The Toolkit urges trusts to follow up patients who have been at high risk of suicide during the period of admission within 48 hours of discharge by an agreed member of the clinical team.
	Effective care co-ordination in mental health services (Department of Health, 1999) also requires care plans for severely mentally ill service users under the care programme approach to include urgent follow-up within one week of hospital discharge
	As part of the Healthcare Commission's annual health check, trusts will be assessed against all of the national targets as described in National Standards, Local Action: Health and Social Care Standards and Planning Framework 2005/2006-2007/2008 (Department of Health, 2004) including the national target on suicide reduction. This includes an assessment of the proportion of patients discharged from in-patient care followed up within seven days.

Identity Cards: Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish (a) any analysis they have made of the potential use that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport may make of the National Identity Register or identity cards introduced following enactment of the Identity Cards Bill; and (b) their estimate of the costs that will or may be incurred by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in connection with such use.

Lord Davies of Oldham: National identity cards showing the date of birth will provide a useful addition to existing forms of identification. They will assist the alcohol retail industry, the gambling industry and National Lottery outlets to ensure that minimum age requirements are met. The department has not finalised its estimates of the benefits or costs of using the ID cards scheme to support the services which it oversees.

Identity Cards: Department for Education and Skills

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish (a) any analysis they have made of the potential use that the Department for Education and Skills may make of the National Identity Register or identity cards introduced following enactment of the Identity Cards Bill; and (b) their estimate of the costs that will or may be incurred by the Department for Education and Skills in connection with such use.

Lord Adonis: The Department for Education and Skills contributed to the benefits overview document which was published by the Identity Cards Programme in June 2005. The department has, in consultation with the Identity Cards Programme, developed a current best estimate of the cost of using the ID cards scheme to support the services which it oversees and these costs have been incorporated into the business case. The department is represented on the Ministerial Committee on Identity Cards, which oversees the work on benefits planning and realisation.
	We cannot release detailed estimated costs for using the ID card scheme as some elements may be acquired from the market. The estimates are therefore commercially sensitive and to release them may prejudice the procurement process and the department's ability to obtain value for money from potential suppliers.

Identity Cards: Department for Transport

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish (a) any analysis they have made of the potential use that the Department for Transport may make of the National Identity Register or identity cards introduced following enactment of the Identity Cards Bill; and (b) their estimate of the costs that will or may be incurred by the Department for Transport in connection with such use.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Department for Transport contributed to the benefits overview document, which was published by the Identity Cards Programme in June 2005. The department has not finalised its estimates of the benefits or costs of using the ID cards scheme to support the services which it oversees.

Identity Cards: Department of Trade and Industry

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish (a) any analysis they have made of the potential use that the Department of Trade and Industry may make of the National Identity Register or identity cards introduced following enactment of the Identity Cards Bill; and (b) their estimate of the costs that will or may be incurred by the Department of Trade and Industry in connection with such use.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The department has not finalised current best estimates of the cost of using the ID cards scheme to support the services which it oversees.

Identity Cards: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Baroness Seccombe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish (a) any analysis they have made of the potential use that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency may make of the National Identity Register or identity cards introduced following enactment of the Identity Cards Bill; and (b) their estimate of the costs that will or may be incurred by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in connection with such use.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Department for Transport contributed to the benefits overview document which was published by the Identity Cards Programme in June 2005. The department has not finalised its estimates of the benefits or costs of using the ID cards scheme to support the services which it oversees.

NHS Dentistry

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 17 November (WA 160), whether any other specific field research was undertaken into the effect of the proposed new dental patient charges, apart from the work by the working party led by Mr Harry Clayton.

Lord Warner: The working group comprised consumer, professional and other expert representatives and was set up specifically to advise on a new system of charges for National Health Service dentistry.
	No other specific field research has been undertaken. There is no power under the Health and Social Care Act 2003 to allow for the piloting of a new charging system.

NHS Dentistry

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have reconsidered the proposed removal of the right to limit a National Health Service dental practice to a certain type of patient.

Lord Warner: As part of the process for local commissioning it is at the discretion of a primary care trust (PCT) to agree, in discussion with an individual dental practice, whether there are reasonable grounds for giving priority to certain groups of patients. The forthcoming general dental service contracts and personal dental service agreements regulations make clear that a PCT may agree a contract with a dentist that is limited to certain groups of patients where it believes there are reasonable grounds to do so.

NHS: Consultation

Baroness Michie of Gallanach: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Regarding the consultation process on the White Paper Your Health, Your Care, Your Say, how they consulted representative groups, such as those with long-term medical conditions; and whether the short timescales given for bottom-up consultation could inhibit opportunities for engagement.

Lord Warner: We worked closely with the voluntary sector supporting them in organising consultation events to reach representatives from several seldom heard groups, including people with long-term conditions. People from seldom heard groups also attended the local and regional consultation events and the national citizens' summit. 626 people with long-term medical conditions took part in local deliberative consultation events, 96 people with long-term conditions attended the regional consultation events and 380 people with long-term conditions were present among the 1,000 people who attended the citizens' summit in October at Birmingham.

NHS: Consultation

Baroness Michie of Gallanach: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, given that 51 people attended the health and social care listening event on 19 July, they consider that the findings from this consultation reflect the majority opinion of the public on these issues.

Lord Warner: The listening event held on 19 July was to consult people in the National Health Service, local authorities and voluntary organisations about the resources the Department of Health could provide to support them to organise or facilitate local deliberative consultation events as part of the "Your Health, Your Care, Your Say" consultation. It was attended by 178 people from across the spectrum of health and social care who welcomed the chance to be involved at a very early stage of the process. It was helpful in taking forward a wide range of consultation and public engagement subsequently.

NHS: North Cumbria

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total allocation of resources to north Cumbria health services by the National Health Service in each year since 1997; and what proportion of those allocations in cash terms were provided for (a) the mental health trust; (b) the ambulance trust; and (c) the acute trust; and
	What was the total funding allocation to National Health Service services in north Cumbria for expenditure on primary care services including (a) dentistry; (b) drugs; (c) general practitioner practices; (d) hospitals; and (e) other remaining areas of expenditure, in each year since 1997.

Lord Warner: National Health Service allocations in north Cumbria for hospital services in each year since 1997–98 and for general practitioner services in each year since 2004–05 are shown in the following tables. Revenue allocations are made to primary care trusts, not NHS trusts. It is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations.
	Funding for GP services and dental services has historically, with some exceptions, been held centrally and not allocated to PCTs. Funding was demand-led, with payments made in response to claims submitted by GPs and dentists.
	Following the new GP contract, the Department of Health made primary medical services allocations to PCTs in 2004–05 and 2005–06. This will become part of PCTs' overall allocations from 2006–07. Following the new dental contract, the Department will make dental allocations to PCTs from 2006–07.
	Table 1 shows the allocations made to North Cumbria Health Authority in 1997–98 and 1998–99. The department made allocations to health authorities from 1996–97 for hospital and community health services (HCHS).
	
		Table 1: Hospital and community health services allocations 1997–98 to 1998–99(£ millions)
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 
			 North Cumbria Health Authority 138.0 144.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. It is not possible to separate the allocations for hospital services from the allocations for community health services.
	Table 2 shows the unified allocations made to North Cumbria Health Authority between 1999–2000 and 2002–03. The department made unified allocations to health authorities from 1999-2000 covering HCHS, prescribing and general medical services cash-limited.
	
		Table 2: Unified allocations 1999-2000 to 2002-03 -- (£ millions)
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			 North Cumbria Health   Authority 198.9 217.8 235.5 261.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These services cannot be separately identified. These figures are not comparable with earlier years which cover HCHS only.
	The department has made allocations to PCTs from 2003–04. Table 3 shows the revenue allocations made to Carlisle and District PCT, Eden Valley PCT and West Cumbria PCT for 2003–04 to 2005–06.
	
		Table 3: Revenue allocations 2003–04 to 2005–06 -- (£ millions)
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
			 Carlisle and District PCT 102.3 112.0 122.2 
			 Eden Valley PCT 58.4 63.7 69.1 
			 West Cumbria PCT 122.8 133.8 145.2 
		
	
	The department made separate primary medical services (PMedS) allocations to PCTs in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Table 4 shows the PMedS allocations to Carlisle and District PCT, Eden Valley PCT and West Cumbria PCT in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
	
		Table 4: Primary medical services allocations -- 2004–05 and 2005–06(£ millions)
		
			  2004–05 2005–06 
			 Carlisle and District PCT 9.2 9.8 
			 Eden Valley PCT 6.6 7.1 
			 West Cumbria PCT 10.7 11.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These allocations covered the bulk of the funding for the new GP contract, with the remaining funding for quality being allocated to the NHS Bank.
	In February 2005, the department announced revenue resource allocations to PCTs for 2006–07 and 2007–08. Table 5 shows the revenue allocations to West Cumbria PCT, Eden Valley PCT and Carlisle and District PCT for 2006–08.
	
		Table 5: Revenue resource allocations 2006–07 and 2007–08 -- (£ millions)
		
			  2006–07 2007–08 
			 Carlisle and District PCT 144.9 158.5 
			 Eden Valley PCT 83.1 90.3 
			 West Cumbria PCT 171.9 188.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These include primary medical services funding and are not comparable with earlier years.

NHS: North Cumbria

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many (a) chairmen; (b) chief executives; (c) executive directors; and (d) non-executive directors are entitled to attend meetings of the North Cumbria Primary Care Trust Board; and what proposals exist for its organisation in the future.

Lord Warner: The three statutory bodies covering the North Cumbria area are:
	Carlisle & District Primary Care Trust
	Eden Valley Primary Care Trust
	West Cumbria Primary Care Trust
	Across these primary care trusts there are:
	three chairs;
	one chief executive covering the three primary care trusts;
	one director of finance covering the three primary care trusts, two directors of public health and one vacant post;
	Carlisle & District Primary Care Trust has four non-executive directors and one vacant post; Eden Valley Primary Care Trust has four non-executive directors and one vacant post; and West Cumbria Primary Care Trust has five non-executive directors.
	There is a proposal to merge the three into a single primary care trust covering Cumbria.
	No decisions on the reconfiguration of primary care trusts will be taken until the full, 14 week, local consultation has been completed.

NHS: North Cumbria

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent rurality and low density in population influence their decisions regarding the allocation of any additional National Health Service resources in Cumbria.

Lord Warner: A weighted capitation formula is used to inform revenue allocations to primary care trusts.
	The issue of rurality in relation to revenue allocations to PCTs has been looked at by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) on a number of occasions. ACRA has found that one of the main concerns of rural areas is that their use of health care services is lower than on average because access to services is more difficult due to transport and geographical barriers. In calculating health need in rural areas the weighted capitation formula takes account of the effects of access, transport and poverty.
	ACRA is an independent body, made up of National Health Service managers, academics and general practitioners. ACRA continuously oversees the development of the weighted capitation formula.

NHS: North Cumbria

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the projected deficit for National Health Service provision in north Cumbria for the current financial year.

Lord Warner: The 2005–06 forecast position at month six for all National Health Service organisations has been placed on the Department of Health publications website. This information can be found under "recently added classes of information" and can be accessed via the following link:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/ FreedomOfInformation/ClassesOfInformation/fs/en.

Northern Ireland: Decommissioning

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the basis of their assessment that all Irish Republican Army guns, explosives and ammunition have been decommissioned.

Lord Rooker: The Government believe that General de Chastelain's declaration that the IRA has completed disarmament has created an historic opportunity for progress.
	The chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), General John de Chastelain, announced on 25 September 2005 that it had witnessed full and final decommissioning by the PIRA of arms and weaponry. The seventh Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) report, published on 19 October 2005, recognises that statement as "very significant" and that,
	"initial signs following the PIRA statement are encouraging".
	The report concluded:
	"we have no evidence of training or recruitment after the 28 July statement".
	The IMC's January report will be important in showing whether the commitments made in July are being met.

Northern Ireland: Decommissioning

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who selected the independent witnesses for the Irish Republican Army decommissioning acts; on what basis; and when.

Lord Rooker: On 26 September, the IICD gave a press conference and submitted a report to the British and Irish Governments. The Reverend Good and Father Reid attended that conference in their capacity as independent witnesses. The identities of the independent witnesses were known from that point onwards. The IICD's report to the two Governments of 26 September referred to the role of Reverend Good and Father Reid in witnessing the decommissioning. The Government have always maintained that nomination of independent witnesses is a matter for the IICD and the IRA.

Northern Ireland: Prosecutions

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have had discussions with the Public Prosecutor's Office in Northern Ireland on the reasons given for dropping all charges arising from the police raid on the private offices of Sinn Fein on 5 October 2002.

Lord Goldsmith: The only discussions the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland has had were with the Attorney-General in his statutory role of superintending law officer. In respect of all prosecutorial decisions, the Attorney-General acts independently of government.

Northern Ireland: Public Sector Appointments

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In determining appointments to the public sector in Northern Ireland, whether individuals are asked to identify their community background.

Lord Rooker: Applicants for public appointments sponsored by the Northern Ireland administration and the Northern Ireland Office are asked to provide details of their community background. This information is sought for monitoring purposes only and forms no part of the selection process.
	For appointments to the following Northern Ireland Office public bodies, there is a legislative requirement that the Secretary of State shall, as far as practicable, secure that the commissioners/membership, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.
	Equality Commission for Northern Ireland;
	Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission;
	Northern Ireland Policing Board; and
	Parades Commission for Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland: Security of Private Residences

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under what conditions they will fund security equipment in private residences in Northern Ireland; and how much was spent on such protection in each of the past five years.

Lord Rooker: Security measures are provided under the auspices of the Key Persons Protection Scheme at the homes of individuals employed in certain occupations or who fulfil certain public roles who are considered by the police to be under a substantial or severe terrorist threat. In addition, security measures can be provided if Article 2 of the European Convention is engaged and the Secretary of State concludes it is appropriate to do so. Costs for the past five years are.
	
		
			 Year Expenditure 
			 2000–01 £4.9 million 
			 2001–02 £4.9 million 
			 2002–03 £11 million 
			 2003–04 £13 million 
			 2004–05 £7.5 million 
			 2005–06 £3.8 million (anticipated)

Parliament Square: Statue to David Lloyd George

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide financial support to the project for a statue to David Lloyd George in Parliament Square.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government do not usually sponsor statues, memorials or monuments, the funding for which usually derives from private donations or public subscription. The Government have no plans to provide financial support for the project for the statue to David Lloyd George in Parliament Square, funds for which are being generated by the David Lloyd George Statue Appeal Trust.

Physiotherapy

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to redress the current imbalance in physiotherapy posts, where some senior positions are unfilled and yet a substantial number of this year's new physiotherapy graduates are unable to find posts.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health is working closely with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the National Health Service workforce review team and NHS organisations to help junior physiotherapists to find first posts.
	A physiotherapy workforce action plan was created by the NHS workforce review team, in partnership with a range of stakeholders. It outlines short, medium and longer-term strategies that local managers can use to help new graduates to secure posts, including the promotion of conversion of long-term senior physiotherapy vacancies and accelerated competency-based promotion.

Powers of Entry

Lord Selsdon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what circumstances officials of the Northern Ireland Office and of public bodies answerable to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland can search and enter the homes or business premises of United Kingdom citizens; and, in each case, what is the statutory authority for that power.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my noble friend the Minister of State for the Home Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal) on 23 November 2005 (Official Report, cols. WA 218–19).

Primary Care Trusts: Psychiatric Care

Lord Stratford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many primary care trusts place psychiatric care patients in private care facilities.

Lord Warner: This information is not collected centrally by the Department of Health. Primary care trusts can commission services from other National Health Service trusts, independent providers or provide services themselves to meet the healthcare needs of their populations.

Prison Service: Furniture Procurement

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have considered allowing prison governors to purchase office consumables and furniture from any supplier, rather than only from approved suppliers, on condition that the items in question cost no more than if obtained from the approved supplier.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Government purchasing seeks to demonstrate value for money while promoting fair and open competition. As well as value for money, a number of other factors are used to determine the most appropriate products to buy, including: technical, health and safety and environmental considerations, as well as delivery and after sales service. Because of the aggregated value of the items purchased by the Prison Service, the European Union (EU) public procurement directives apply to both stationery and furniture and have been the subject of EU competition procedures, the latter of which was undertaken by the Inland Revenue as part of a collaborative venture. The Prison Service uses furniture manufactured by prisoners. As well as ensuring value for money, this policy has the added benefit of providing prisoners with purposeful activity, training and potentially qualifications that will help lead to employment on release. Where specific items of furniture cannot be manufactured in house, two contractors have been selected to provide such items from framework agreements awarded by Inland Revenue following an open competition. Contract prices are subject to rigorous reviews to ensure that products remain competitively priced throughout the life of the contract.

Prisoners: Release on Licence

Baroness Buscombe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prisoners are currently released on licence; and what proportion of the total prison population this represents.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Information for England and Wales on the prison population and those supervised by the Probation Service on post release licence can be found in tables 8.1 and 4.6 respectively of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin: Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2003. Prison population information for Scotland is available in Table 1 of Prison Statistics, Scotland, 2004–05. Information on those released on licence in Scotland can be found in the Parole Board of Scotland Annual Report 2004. Information on the prison population in Northern Ireland can be found in the Northern Ireland Office Research and Statistical Bulletin 8/2005: The Northern Ireland Prison Population 2004; and information on the probation caseload in Northern Ireland is available in the Probation Board for Northern Ireland's Annual Report 2004-05. Copies of these reports can be found in the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries.

Race Equality Councils

Lord Chan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the network of race equality councils will be funded under the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR); and how incorporation into the CEHR will enhance the work of the race equality councils in promoting community relations.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government have given a clear commitment in the White Paper Fairness For All and elsewhere that the Commission for Equality and Human Rights will provide continued support for the local race equality work carried out by the network of racial equality councils and other bodies; and that the CEHR will maintain funding for local race equality work at current levels for the foreseeable future. Promoting race equality and good community relations will be at the heart of the CEHR's work and will build on the CRE's achievements and its partnership with RECs. The CEHR's powers will give it a strengthened good relations role, covering not only the promotion of good relations but combating hate crime and working to eliminate prejudice, hatred and hostility. The CEHR's regional arrangements throughout Great Britain will enable it to work more closely with RECs and communities in their local settings, understanding local and regional priorities and delivering services that are relevant and appropriate.

Rail Transport

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they categorise conventional light rail and ultra light rail as rail transport and not as road transport.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Light rail is regarded by the department as a transport mode in itself, whose tracks may be on roads or segregated, and is therefore distinct from other forms of road transport or heavy rail.

Railway Sites: Crime Scenes

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under what circumstances the police declare a railway site a scene of crime.

Lord Davies of Oldham: British Transport Police will declare a railway site a scene of crime where there is evidence a crime has been committed or further investigation is necessary to determine if a crime has been perpetrated. This is to enable the collection of forensic and physical evidence.

Railways: Energy Efficiency

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in recognition of their energy efficiency targets, they will take steps to include rail-based transport systems within the road transport assistance schemes administered by the Energy Savings Trust, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, Foresight Vehicle and other similar sources of funding.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Department for Transport is working with a cross-industry group considering how to improve the environmental performance of the rail network. As part of this work, the department will consider with industry how best to encourage the introduction of cleaner, more efficient rail technologies and support operational best practice.

Royal Irish Regiment: Home Service Battalions

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Drayson on 10 November (WA 110) and on 28 November (WA 12), whether they will place in the Library of the House papers defining, in respect of Royal Irish soldiers, those exemptions that have been granted, including specific exemption from the requirement to record working hours; whether commanders formally report on the impact of these exemptions; and to whom any such report is made; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 28 November (WA 12) concerning exemptions from working time regulations in the Armed Forces, to what level of appointment the commanding officer refers; and whether they will place a copy of the relevant directions to the commanding officer in the Library of the House; and
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Drayson on 10 November (WA 110) and on 28 November (WA 12), whether the level of operational commitment of the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland currently requires the exemptions that have been granted, including specific exemption from the requirement to record working hours; and, if so, how security is to be maintained after the Royal Irish Home Battalions are disbanded.

Lord Drayson: Guidance relating to Working Time Regulations for the Armed Forces is contained in a Joint Service Defence Council Instruction (DCI JS 16/99). Commanders are instructed to apply the regulations (including the exemptions where appropriate) worldwide in order to afford all service personnel equal protection. The Working Time Regulations are implemented in Northern Ireland under Statutory Rule 1998 No. 386 Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 and can be viewed at www.opsi.gov.uk/sr/sr1998/19980386.htm.
	In the context of DCI JS 16/99, the rank of commander should be taken as the commissioned officer who is appointed commanding officer of an establishment, unit, air station, ship, etc.
	As the Working Time Regulations apply to the Armed Forces worldwide, in order to afford all service personnel equal protection, these exemptions will continue to apply to the Northern Ireland theatre as elsewhere.
	The Armed Forces will continue to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland for as long as the Chief Constable requires. After the conclusion of Operation Banner, and with it the disbandment of the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, the Armed Forces will still be available to support the police on the same basis as the rest of the United Kingdom, should the Chief Constable ask for support. Specific military support for public order will also remain available if needed on the terms set out in Patten recommendations 59 and 66.
	The guidance relating to Working Time Regulations for the Armed Forces is under review. The revised version will be placed in the Library of the House.

Royal Patriotic Fund

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 7 December (WS 72–73), whether they will amend the Armed Forces Bill now before Parliament to repeal as obsolete the Patriotic Fund Reorganisation Act 1903.

Lord Drayson: The Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004 repealed the Patriotic Fund Reorganisation Act 1903 (see Schedule 3 for a complete list of the legislation repealed by the Act).

Safeguarding Children: Inter-agency Guide

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect that the new inter-agency guide, updating Working together to safeguard children (1999) will be published.

Lord Adonis: We plan to finalise and publish Working Together to Safeguard Children in March 2006. The guidance for local safeguarding children boards (chapter 3) will be published in advance of the rest of Working Together by January 2006.

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005: Section 132

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prosecutions are pending or planned under Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

Lord Goldsmith: There are currently 13 prosecutions pending or planned under Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

Sexual Health

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What compulsion is being put upon primary care trusts to ensure that extra government funding for sexual health will be allocated to genito-urinary medicine services.

Lord Warner: Primary care trusts will receive funding to implement the Choosing Health White Paper in their mainstream allocations and the Department of Health will monitor the outcomes from this investment. In particular, the progress towards targets to reduce the level of new infections of gonorrhoea; to ensure patients have access to genito-urinary medicine clinics within 48 hours by 2008; and numbers of screens undertaken in the chlamydia screening programme.
	For the first time sexual health is being performance managed through strategic health authorities by means of the local delivery plans in exactly the same way as accident and emergency waiting times, cancer and coronary heart disease and this approach has shown positive results in such areas. These improved performance measures should significantly strengthen the incentive for local investment and service modernisation.

Smallpox Vaccine

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What stocks they have of smallpox vaccine; when and on what assumptions the vaccine was purchased; at what cost and from which manufacturers; and with whom the purchase was negotiated.

Lord Warner: The United Kingdom Government have sufficient smallpox vaccine to mount a mass vaccination campaign of the whole population.
	Our vaccine stock is comprised of three different vaccines: vaccine supplied by the Swiss Serum Institute at unknown cost as part of a routine supply contract during the eradication of smallpox vaccination campaign; vaccine manufactured by Bavarian Nordic and supplied by PowederJect at a cost of £32 million; and vaccine manufactured and supplied by Aventis Pasteur MSD as part of an on-going contract worth in total £45.2 million.
	All vaccines are of the Lister strain, a specific requirement for the UK vaccines, and all purchases have been negotiated with the suppliers in competition with other suppliers of vaccine.

Taxes Management Act 1970: Section 118

Lord Carter: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they propose to amend Section 118 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 to remove the words "person of unsound mind, lunatic, idiot or insane person"; and what amendment they propose in place of these words.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: As my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the recent Pre-Budget Report, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is reviewing its administrative rules, and will develop and consult on a new management Act that will bring together the rules for the main taxes. This will provide an opportunity to revise and modernise the definition of an "incapacitated person" in Section 118 Taxes Management Act 1970. HMRC will consult on a new draft definition.

Violent Crime: Use of Bladed Weapons

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the number of violent attacks using bladed weapons since 1997.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Information on the number of violent attacks involving bladed weapons is not collected centrally in the police recorded crime statistics. The British Crime Survey (BCS) collects information on the use of weapons in violent incidents, whether or not the incident was reported to the police. The available information from the BCS is given in the table. Statistics on victims of homicide killed with a sharp instrument are published in Table 1.03 of Crime in England and Wales 2003/04: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 02/05). A copy of this publication is available in the Library.
	Percentage of incidents in which weapons/knives were used, all BCS violence.
	
		Percentages
		
			  1997(1998 BCS) 1999(2000 BCS) 2001–02 interviews 2002–03 interviews 2003–04 interviews 2004–05 interviews 
			 Weapons used 20 16 23 26 21 25 
			 Knives used 5 5 7 8 5 6 
			 Stabbing implement 1 1 1 2 1 1